PowerConnect B-Series FCX Configuration Guide 1109
53-1002266-01
Comparison of VRRP and VRRPE
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Configuration note
VRRP-E is supported in the edge Layer 3 and full Layer 3 code only. It is not supported in the base
Layer 3 code.
Comparison of VRRP and VRRPE
This section compares router redundancy protocols.
VRRP
VRRP is a standards-based protocol, described in RFC 2338. The Dell implementation of VRRP
contains the features in RFC 2338. The Dell implementation also provides the following additional
features:
• Track ports – A Dell feature that enables you to diagnose the health of all the Layer 3 Switch
ports used by the backed-up VRID, instead of only the port connected to the client subnet.
Refer to “Track ports and track priority” on page 1105.
• Suppression of RIP advertisements on Backup routes for the backed up interface – You can
enable the Layer 3 Switches to advertise only the path to the Master router for the backed up
interface. Normally, a VRRP Backup router includes route information for the interface it is
backing up in RIP advertisements.
Dell Layer 3 Switches configured for VRRP can interoperate with third-party routers using VRRP.
VRRPE
VRRPE is a Dell protocol that provides the benefits of VRRP without the limitations. VRRPE is unlike
VRRP in the following ways:
• There is no “Owner” router. You do not need to use an IP address configured on one of the
Layer 3 Switches as the virtual router ID (VRID), which is the address you are backing up for
redundancy. The VRID is independent of the IP interfaces configured in the Layer 3 Switches.
As a result, the protocol does not have an “Owner” as VRRP does.
• There is no restriction on which router can be the default master router. In VRRP, the “Owner”
(the Layer 3 Switch on which the IP interface that is used for the VRID is configured) must be
the default Master.
Dell Layer 3 Switches configured for VRRPE can interoperate only with other Dell Layer 3 Switches.
Architectural differences
The protocols have the following architectural differences:
Management protocol
• VRRP – VRRP routers send VRRP Hello and Hello messages to IP Multicast address
224.0.0.18.
• VRRPE – VRRPE sends messages to destination MAC address 01-00-5E-00-00-02 and
destination IP address 224.0.0.2 (the standard IP multicast address for “all routers”).
